Take-up device having a tension-derived compacting means

ABSTRACT

A take-up device for winding continuously woven cloth upon a take-up roll to form hard, straight-ended rolls without pick line distortion. A pivotably supported S-wrap assembly rests tiltably upon the take-up roll. Its swing axis is parallel to an input roll, around which the incoming cloth travels at the same speed as the loom let-off, and to the take-up roll. A tensional pressure plane passes through the swing axis and inwardly of the center line of the S-wrap assembly. The cloth moves reversibly through the S-wrap assembly and onto the take-up roll. When a selected tension torque, in addition to the winding torque, is applied to the take-up roll shaft, the cloth is tautened, the Swrap assembly is pulled toward planar relationship with the cloth and the tensional pressure plane, and a tension-derived pressure is created. This pressure acts inwardly upon the take-up roll to compact the cloth wound thereupon and increases with the increasing diameter of the wound cloth upon the take-up roll.

United States Patent 1 Zebley et a1.

[ 1 Jan.2, 1973 [54] TAKE-UP DEVICE HAVING A TENSION-DERIVED COMPACTING MEANS [75] Inventors: Donald Dane Zebley, Greenville,

S.C.; Joseph Wayne Cashion, Statesville, NC.

[73] Assignee: United Merchants and Manufacv turers, lnc., New York, NY.

[22] Filed: April 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 136,474

[52] US. Cl. ..139/304, 26/63, 139/311, 242/75.2 [51] Int. Cl. ..D03d 49/20 [58] Field of Search ..66/152, 153; 26/54, 63, 70; 242/752, 76; 226/195; 139/304, 305, 307,

Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon Attorney-Jules E. Goldberg, Esq. and John P. Mc- Gann, Esq.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A take-up device for winding continuously woven cloth upon a take-up roll to form hard, straight-ended rolls without pick line distortion. A pivotably supported S-wrap assembly rests tiltably upon the take-up r011. lts swing axis is parallel to an input roll, around which the incoming cloth travels at the same speed as the loom let-off, and to the take-up roll. A tensional pressure plane passes through the swing axis and inwardly of the center line of the S-wrap assembly. The cloth moves reversibly through the S-wrap assembly and onto the take-up roll. When a selected tension torque, in addition to the winding torque, is applied to the take-up roll shaft, the cloth is tautened, the S-wrap assembly is pulled toward planar relationship with the cloth and the tensional pressure plane, and a tensionderived pressure is created. This pressure acts inwardly upon the take-up roll to compact the cloth wound thereupon and increases with the increasing diameter of the wound cloth upon the take-up roll.

20 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJM 2'91: 3.707.996

SHEET 3 OF 6 3,2! INVENTORS 27 DDNHLD D. ZEEJLEY x Jnse u UJLRSHHJN ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJM 21m 3.707.996 sum 0r 6 m .6 is: E W a H w 7.11M... .i. 5 21 0Q a s m 51 5:: m i m l 1 n m t m w: a: mi N S( m INVENTOR?) DDNQLD D. ZEBLEYU JOSEPH UJ cAsHmN @Bnixm 49m ATTORNEYS PATENTEUJAH 2 ms SHEET 5 BF 6 m2, E @E\ w u m m mmm m WES a m um A U mm m ma W DO DJ l M q: @GHM PATENTED 2 E75 sum 5 or 5 V .E m2 E mm. Gm, J .E 5 a .E 5N N8 5 m, M mm. 5 mm E m NE .3 NQdHH S vs INVENTORS DONALD D. ZEBL'EY JOSEPH \N. (IQSHIUN BY m0 O'BRIEN W I ATTORNEYS TAKE-UP DEVICE HAVING A TENSION-DERIVED COMPACTING MEANS CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to the following two applications, filed on even date herewith of Donald Dane Zebley: Potential-Energy Mechanism for Operating a Take-Up Roll and Torque-Control Device for a Potential-Energy Torque-Generating Mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to spreading and compacting devices in the textile, paper and calendaring arts. It particularly relates to devices for weft straightening, warp spreading, and skew correcting of continuously moving fabrics. It especially relates to devices which press upon a take-up roll to produce compaction and longitudinal uniformity of cloth or paper being wound thereupon.

SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART Prior devices using one or more bowed rolls, in combination with nearby idler rolls to produce sharp reversals of direction for the incoming cloth, have been used for warp spreading, weft straightening, and skew correcting in the textile art, thereby producing a more uniform build-up upon the take-up cloth roll, as when the cloth roll takes up freshly woven cloth from a loom, and eliminating wrinkles which cause irregular dyeing and other difficulties. These bowed rolls are generally secured to a rigid frame but may be tiltable or adjustable to align the convexity of the bow in a desired relationship to the plane of the moving fabric.

Other devices for stretching a web of material in the direction of the weft include tensioning rollers having threaded surfaces or barrel shapes. Rubber-covered rolls, sometimes with surfaces of compound curvature, are also known in the prior art for this purpose.

Other devices are known which contact and compact the wound cloth upon a take-up roll by applying pressure thereupon during the winding operation. A denser roll of cloth having greater uniformity from end to end thereof is produced. Without such compacting devices, the cloth tends to wind up loose and bulky and sometimes runs off one end of the take-up roll. These devices, generally known in the textile art as sand rolls or presser rolls, frequently press upon the take-up roll at the line of entry of the incoming fabric so that the fabric enters the nip therebetween and distortion occasionally occurs therealong. Pressure is usually exerted and regulated by utilizing the full weight of the pressure roll or of the take-up roll or by spring biasing means, as separate pressure-creating means.

In order to save space and decrease fabric wastage from weaving defects, it is desirable to combine the spreading and compacting functions. However, it is difficult to utilize both types of devices simultaneously whereby spreading and compacting are accomplished by a single assembly. It is also sometimes difficult to remove a fully wound take-up roll or to make mechanical repairs when the pressure roll is in contact therewith. Moreover, spring-biased pressure-applying means sometimes become unbalanced and produce uneven cloth rolls from end to end of the wound cloth upon the take-up rolls.

A simple device which is capable of combining spreading and compacting functions without the use of springs or complete reliance upon the deadweight of a roll, while being readily displaceable from contact with the take-up roll when desired, could be widely useful. If such a device for combined spreading and compacting of incoming cloth could also facilitate doffing of a wound cloth roll and readily permit reverse motion of the cloth roll for cutting, splicing, and other repair operations, it would fill a long-felt need of the textile industry.

This potential usefulness is particularly pertinent at the present time because the textile industry is rapidly turning towards wound take-up rolls of greater than 20 inches in diameter, the existing standard size. If the wound take-up roll is greater than 20 inches in diameter, however, it cannot be operated on the loom frame and must be remotely positioned.

In some installations, the remote take-up roll is located overhead, in the ceiling, or in an overhead chamber. In others, it is in the basement beneath the loom room, where it receives the fabric which passes through a slot in the floor of the loom room. The increased distance between loom and the remotely located take-up roll creates increased opportunities for skewing of fabrics and makes alignment and compacting thereof on the take-up roll a much more difficult accomplishment.

Similar problems are commonly encountered in the winding of sanitary and other paper products, the winding of plastic films, and similar arts involving bulky planar materials. It is to be understood herein that the word, webs, encompasses all moving planar materials of indeterminate length which are flexible, relatively bulky, capable of distortion under tension, or likely to. wrinkle and produce soft rolls having telescoped ends during winding operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of this invention to provide a take-up device for continuously moving webs which, in combination, smooths the web and compacts the wound roll to form hard, straight rolls without pick line distortion.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a web take-up device as a single assembly, having combined spreading and compacting functions, that compacts the wound roll without use of a separate pressurecreating means.

It is another object to produce a take-up device having a tension-related compacting means for selectively exerting tension-derived pressure upon a take-up roll being wound, as with cloth from a loom.

It is a principal object of this invention, as applied to the winding of woven cloth, to create said tensionderived pressure by providing a means for transecting said take-up roll with a tensional pressure plane that passes through the swing axis of a web reversing means through which continuously incoming tautened cloth of indeterminate length travels reversibly before winding onto the cloth roll, so that the surface of the wound cloth roll outwardly displaces the web reversing means from said tensional pressure plane.

It is another principal object to operate a cloth takeup device under a tension torque that is selectively greater than the winding torque required for winding the woven cloth at speeds equaling the loom let-off and that produces a tension-derived inward pressure upon the take-up roll in combination with the magnitude of displacement of said web reversing means from said tensional pressure plane.

It is an additional object to provide a spreading and compacting device having a shifting means for selectively removing the device from contact with the takeup roll.

It is also an object to provide a method for applying selectively variable line-of-contact pressure upon a take-up roll in a desired relationship to the increasing diameter thereof.

It is another object to provide a cloth take-up device that facilitates doffing of a wound cloth roll.

It is an additional object to provide a cloth take-up device that readily permits reverse motion of the cloth roll for cutting, splicing, and other repair operations.

The method of this invention utilizes well-known physical principles to pull upon a pivotable web reversing means, which leans against the take-up or winding roll with a weight-derived sidewise pressure thereupon, to create an additional tension-derived inward pressure in direct relationship to side-wise displacement by the wound web upon the take-up roll.

Inward and inwardly are herein defined as toward the interior of the take-up roll.

When winding a continuously incoming web of indeterminate length upon a take-up roll, this method of spreading and compacting the wound web upon the take-up roll by means of a tension-derived pressure comprises the steps of:

A. disposing the swing axis and selecting the pivoting radius of the web reversing means so that the web reversing means linearly contacts the surface of the take-up roll and the swing axis is aligned with a tensional pressure plane, when the web reversing means is pulled by the web, that is disposed inwardly of the center line of the web reversing means;

B. passing the web reversibly through the web reversing means and onto the surface of the take-up roll; and

C. winding the take-up roll with a selected tension torque which tautens the web and tends to pull the web reversing means into approximately planar relationship with the web and with the tensional pressure plane, whereby an inward tension-derived pressure is created and exerted inwardly upon the take-up roll, i.e., upon the wound web which immediately covers its surface. The take-up roll is operated at a selected rotational speed equaling the feed speed of the web.

Step A can be effected by changing the pivoting radius of the web reversing means and spacing apart the swing axis and the input roll around which the web travels without altering the angular and spatial relationships of the tensional pressure plane to the surface of the take-up roll.

Step A can also be effected by laterally moving the swing axis and the input roll, whereby the angular relationship of the web reversing means to the surface of the take-up roll is altered.

Step A can further be effected by changing the peripheral position on the take-up roll surface of linear contact between the web reversing means and the surface of the take-up roll.

A total torque is applied to the drive shaft of the take-up roll; it equals winding torque plus an incremental tension torque. The winding torque winds the web at a peripheral speed equaling the incoming speed of the web. The tension torque tautens the web against the resistance of its feed source. When the web is fabric freshly woven on a loom, the incoming speed equals the speed of the loom let-off, the feed source therefor. The incoming web can be considered as passing around an input roll which is parallel to the swing axis and to the take-up roll.

The web take-up device of this invention, for smoothing a continuously moving web of indeterminate length and winding and compacting it to form firm, straight-ended rolls without pick line distortion, comprises:

A. a rigid supporting structure;

B. a drive means which is attached to the structure;

C. a take-up roll, having an input side and a front side, which is rotatably attached to and supported by the rigid structure and is connected to the drive means;

D. a web reversing means which is pivotably attached to the rigid structure along a swing axis which is disposed in parallel to the take-up roll; and

E. a means for forming and so disposing a tensional pressure plane that the center of said web reversing means is displacedoutwardly thereof when in linear contact with the surface of the take-up roll, whereby application of a selected tension torque by the'drive means tautens the web, pulls the web reversing means towards approximately planar relationship with the web and to the tensional pressure plane, and creates a tension-derived pressurethat acts inwardly upon the wound web covering the take-up roll. Thistensional pressure plane passes through the swing axis and is particularly defined by the swing axis and the input roll when the web reverses a little more than 180 during tangential contact with the take-up roll.

The web reversing means can be a single roll mounted on a pair of support arms at each end thereto and pivotable from the swing axis which is disposed oppositely to the input roll so that the single roll of the web reversing means is disposed between the inputroll and the swing axis whenthe web is pulling upon the web reversing means. I

The preferred embodiment of the web reversing means is an S-wrap assembly which preferably comprises a triad of generally parallel rolls; a straight reverse roll, a bowed spreader roll, and a straight pressure roll. The bowed spreader roll is preferably bowed convexly to the fabric. This S-wrap assembly is', in the preferred embodiment, downwardly tilted and in linear contact with the surface of the take-up roll at the beginning of a winding operation and subsequently with the wound web on the take-up roll.

In one embodiment of the invention, the rigid supporting structure is an overhead frame and the swing axis is attached thereto above the take-up roll and on the front side thereof. Preferably, the input roll is below the take-up roll and on the input side thereof, whereby the tensional pressure plane passes diagonally thereabove so that the web reversing means, which linearly contacts the surface of the take-up roll, is at all times displaced outwardly of the tensional pressure plane.

The take-up device having an overhead frame comprises a shifting means for selectively shifting the S- wrap assembly away from the take-up roll. The shifting means is attached to the rigid structure and to the S- wrap assembly and comprises a shifting shaft which is rotatably attached to the overhead frame, a pair of shift sheaves which are attached to the shaft, a pair of shifting cables which are attached to the sheaves and to the S-wrap assembly, and a ratchet-and-pawl means by which the S-wrap assembly may be held at a selected position.

In another and especially preferred embodiment of this invention, the rigid supporting structure includes a box frame to which a rectangular shift frame is pivotably attached as a shifting means. The input roll and the swing axis are, in effect, two of the opposed edges (top and bottom) of this shift frame. When the shift frame is tilted, the web reversing means is swung away from the surface of the take-up roll in one operation, whereby the wound take-up roll may be quickly and simply doffed.

Torque is herein defined as a force which produces rotation and whose effectiveness is measured by the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the axis of rotation of ,a drive shaft used in a winding operation. Torque produces torsion in the drive shaft to the extent that rotation thereof is resisted. Torsion is herein defined as the twisting of a drive shaft by the transverse exertion of torque so that the end of the drive shaft tends to turn about its longitudinal axis while the other end of the drive shaft tends to be retarded by resisting forces. When a drive means for a take-up device being used in a winding operation is torsionally connected to the shaft of the take-up roll in the take-up device, the torque exerted by the drive means is generally transmitted completely without torsional loss to the flexible web, such as fabric incoming from a loom, of indefinite or running length which is being wound upon the takeup roll.

The S-wrap assembly may be swung in suspension from an overhead swing axis, as is preferred, may be horizontally disposed above the take-up roll, or may be pivoted on a floor-mounted swing axis so that it is tilted against the take-up roll. The horizontal disposition generally requires that the tensional pressure plane be slightly above the take-up roll. The overhead tilted arrangement creates a larger weight-derived pressure as the wound web increases in diameter, but the floor arrangement creates a smaller weight-derived pressure as the web builds up in diameter and forces the S-wrap assembly closer to perpendicularity. However, with some types of webs, this relationship is preferable.

Two embodiments of the invention are described herein. A preferred embodiment of the invention, termed the overhead shift embodiment, comprises an overhead frame and a shifting means which is attached to the frame independently of the swing axis. The other and most preferred embodiment of the invention, termed the tilt shift embodiment, comprises a relatively lower box frame and a suspension means which defines the tensional pressure plane and may be selectively tilted to shift the swing axis itself, and thus the S-wrap assembly as well, away from the cloth roll.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may be more fully understood by reference to the drawings, in which FIGS. 1-7 describe the overhead shift embodiment and FIGS. 8-13 describe the tilt shift embodiment of the remote takeup device as follows:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the overhead shift embodiment in which the right-hand halves of the take-up roll and S-wrap assembly are shown in operation with a fabric.

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional viewtaken in the direction of the arrows crossing the line 22 of FIG. 1.

' FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the swinging S-wrap assembly and the shifting means therefor.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one end of the S-wrap assembly of FIG. 3 in which a modified form of the shifting means is shown.

FIG. 5 is a detailed longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken substantially in the direction of the arrows crossing the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal, sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows crossing the line 6--6 of FIG. 1 and showing the locking arrangement for the take-up roll shaft on the right-hand side thereof.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lockingarrangement of FIG. 6 in which the right-hand end of the take-up roll shaft and its journal are shown in exploded position above the locking means.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the tilt shift embodiment of the remote take-up assembly of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows crossing the line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of locking arrangement for the take-up roll shaft which may be used with either embodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of the tilt shift embodiment of the remote take-up assembly in which the S-wrap assembly is shown in operative and nonoperative positions, respectively.

FIG. 13 is a force diagram of the invention, as shown in FIG. 9, for a newly started take-up roll and for a nearly completed take-up roll, whereby the tensional vector forces resultant therefrom can be visualized.

DESCRIPTION OF THE OVERHEAD SHIFT EMBODIMENT Referring principally to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5, the overhead shift embodiment of this invention comprises a rigid overhead frame 90, a take-up roll assembly 50, a take-up roll mounting assembly 60, a take-up roll bearing means 70, a drive means 80, an S-wrap assembly 20, and an S-wrap assembly shifting means 40.

The overhead frame comprises the back joist 98, the back brace 103, and the top brace 104, which are rigidly and perpendicularly attached to the vertical studs 91, 91' and to the side joists 99, 99', the take-up roll support beams 94, 94', and the S-wrap assembly support beams 95, 95 This basic rigid frame is strengthened by the top stiffener 96, the take-up roll stiffener 106, and the front joist 97. The front studs 107, 107' are rigidly attached to the support beams 95,

95' and to thesupport beams 94, 94 to complete the upper part of the frame. At the right-hand side of FIG. 1, the motor supports 101 are shown to be attached to the main frame with the drive support means 92. Strengthening against forward tipping is obtained by the angle braces 93, 93. The front studs 105, 105' are rigidly attached to the front ends of the side joists 99, 99' and to the front ends of the take-up roll support beams 94, 94'. Inwardly of the front studs 105, 105' are the input roll brackets 102, 102' which are rigidly attached to and projecting above the back joist 98.

The-take-up roll assembly 50, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, comprises the square core 51, the take-up roll 52 which fits therearound and has a square opening at each end thereof, the journal rods 53, 53', the sleeves 54, 54', the take-up roll elevational bosses 55, 55', and the take-up roll locking pins 56, 56'. The journal rods 53, 53' slip into the sleeves 54, 54 and rotate therewith at each end of the take-up roll 52.

The take-up roll mounting assemblies 60, 60', as may be clearly seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, comprise the mounting plates 61, 61' which are rigidly attached by bolts to the inner sides of the take-up roll support beams 94, 94 at each end of the take-up roll 52. Because both take-up roll mounting assemblies 60, 60' are alike, the right-hand assembly, as seen in FIG. 1 and shown in detail in FIG. 7, is described. It comprises the mounting plate 61 which is rigidly attached to the take-up roll support beam 94, the stabilizing angles 62 and 69' which are vertically disposed and rigidly attached to the mounting plate 61, the aligning box 63 which is vertically disposed and aligned in adjoining relationship with one side of each of the stabilizing angles 62, 69 and rigidly attached thereto, the brackets 64a, 64b which are attached to the outer sides of the aligning box 63, the cam pin 65 which is horizontally and transversely attached to the bracket 64a, 64b, the locking cam 66 which is disposed between the brackets 64a, 64b in eccentric relationship to the cam pin 65 so that the longer portion is on the downward side thereof, and the locking arm 67 which is rigidly attached to the surface of the locking cam 66 in transverse relationship thereto and in parallel disposition to the cam pin 65.

This locking arrangement is quick acting, simple to construct, and extremely rigid. When a take-up roll is to be installed in the remote take-up roll assembly of this invention, the drop pin 56 is quickly dropped into the box cavity 68 and readily wedged against the sides thereof closest to the mounting plate 61 by downwardly pushing the locking arm 67. This action causes the locking cam 66 to rotate approximately a quarter turn, bringing the longer side into contact with the drop pin 56 whereby the drop pin 56 is wedged into the opposite corner of the aligning box 63. The bottom surface of the elevation boss 55 contacts the top edges of the aligning box 63 and thereby maintains the sleeve 54 at the desired elevation with respect to the take-up roll support beam 94. This locking means is capable of being locked and unlocked with a single downward or upward motion of the locking arm 67, respectivelyrit creates rigid alignment of the drop pin 56, maintains the desired elevation of each end of the take-up roll 52, and is highly dependable.

The take-up roll bearing means 70 comprises the take-up plate 71, the gear plate 72, the gear sleeve 73,

the gear housing 74, the stub shaft 75, the inside hearing 76, and the outside bearing 77. When the gear housing 74 is selectively advanced longitudinally of the journal rod 53, the take-up plate 71 contacts the gear plate 72, and rotation of the stub shaft 75 is thus imparted to the journal rod 53.

The drive means comprises the ,drive motor 81, the drive reducer 82, the drive chain 83, the drive wheel 85, the drive shaft 86, the mounting means 87, and the sprocket wheel 89. Operation of the variable speed motor 81, as reduced by the reducer 82, rotates the drive shaft 86 and the drive wheel to impart motion to the drive chain 83 and sprocket wheel 89 whereby the stub shaft 75 is rotated at a varied speed which equals the speed of the loom let-off and under a total torque sufficient to provide the necessary winding torque plus the tension torque required to maintain a desired tension upon the incoming cloth 14, 15.

The S-wrap assembly 20 comprises the support arms 23, 23' which are rotatably attached by the swing journals 25, 25' to the swing rod 24 which is attached with the swing rod journals 37, 37 to the S-wrap assembly support beams 95,

As is clearly shown in FIG. 3, the support arms 23, 23' are journalled to the end plates 21, 21' by the journals 34, 34'. In the end plates 21, 21' are the positioning arcs 22, 22' near the upper edges thereof. The positioning rod 29 passes through each of these positioning arcs 22, 22' and is attached to the support arms 23, 23' by the nuts 35, 35'. Tightening of the nuts 35, 35' locks the support arms 23, 23' in a selected relationship to the end plates 21, 21

Also attached to and between the end plates 21, 21 are the three generally parallel rolls of the S-wrap assembly: the reverse roll 28, the'bowed spreader roll 27 and the pressure roll 26. The pressure roll 26 is journaled to the end plates 21, 21' by the journals 31, 31'. The reverse roll 28 is joumaled to the end plates 21 21 by the journals 33, 33. The spreader roll 27, which is generally parallel to the pressure roll 26 and to the reverse roll 28 and generally disposed between the end plates 21, 21', is joumaled to the end plates 21, 21 by the journals 32, 32.

As can clearly be seen in FIG. 2, an incoming web, which may be newly woven fabric from an overhead loom, moves continually downwards in direction 38 as fabric section 14 to the input roll 19, which is rotatably attached to the input roll brackets 102, 102'. As fabric section 15, after passing under and around the input roll 19, the web moves diagonally upwards and to the right, as seen in FIG. 2, passes over and around the reverse roll 28, then downwardly as fabric section 16 to pass under and around the spreader roll 27, then upwardly as fabric section 17 to pass between the pressure roll 26 and the wound cloth 18 on the cloth roll 52.

As is well known in the art and as shown in FIG. 2, the spreader roll 27, which has a core 270 and a flexible outer layer 27r, is convexly disposed toward the fabric passing over it and causes spreading of the warp threads and correction of misalignment of skewed fabrics. Adjusting the position of the positioning rod 29 changes the peripheral position of the line of contact of the pressure roll 26 upon the surface of the wound-up cloth 18, whereby the force produced thereon is changed and is resolvable into transversely applied forces and longitudinally applied forces of variant magnitude. When using an S-wrap assembly as the web reversing means, this adjustment of the positioning rod 29 along the positioning arcs 22, 22' is, as discussed hereinbefore, a means for accomplishing STep A in the method of this invention. Tipping the triad of rolls 26, 27 and 28 in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 2, causes increased bite or inward pressure upon the surface of wound cloth 18'as pressure roll 26 nears the horizontal or 9 oclock position with respect to the take-up roll 52 and the wound cloth or web 18 wound thereupon.

The S-wrap assembly shifting means 40 comprises the shifting shaft 41, the shift sheaves 42, 42, the shifting cables 43, 43', the sprocket wheel 44, the crankshaft 45, the holding pawl 46, the pivotable lever 47, the lever pin 48, and the mounting bracket 49. The shaft 41 is rotatably attached at each end thereof to the back studs 91, 91, as may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cables 43, 43 are attached to the journals 32, 32' and to the sheaves 42, 42. The sprocket wheel 44 has a spring-biasing means, which is not shown in the drawings, whereby the cables 43, 43 are kept slightly taut.

As the sprocket wheel 44 turns, the pivotable lever 47 rotates on the lever pin 48 while the holding pin 46 rides up upon the sprockets. When an operator desires to remove a fully wound take-up roll 52 having a large amount of cloth 18 thereupon, he may use a manual crank, which is not shown in the drawings, to engage the crankshaft 45, shown at the upper right-hand corner of FIG. 1, to raise the S-wrap assembly a short distance above the surface to the cloth 18. The holding pawl 46 maintains the S-wrap assembly in any desired position while the cloth roll 52 is changed. Using the crank again, while manually lifting the lever 47, enables the operator to control the lowering of the S-wrap assembly 20 into contact with the surface of the newly installed take-up roll 52 as desired.

The modified tension means 240 which is shown in FIG. 4 comprises a shifting shaft 241 which is rotatably attached at each end thereof to the back studs 91, 91', a pair of sprocket wheels 242, 242' which are rigidly attached to the shaft 241, a pair of sprocket chains 243, 243', which are attached at their lower ends to the journals 32, 32', and a pair of shifting weights 244, 244 which are attached to the other ends of the chains 243, 243. This tension means 240 is suitable for use with the S-wrap assembly shifting means 40 if desired, replacing the spring-biased tension means which is not shown in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TILT SHIFT EMBODIMENT The tilt shift embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, comprises the bed frame 190, the drive means 180, the take-up roll shaft mounting assemblies 160, 160, the take-up roll assembly 150, the S-wrap assembly shifting means 140, and the S-wrap assembly 120. The take-up roll shaft mounting assemblies 160, 160' shown in FIG. 10, may be used with the overhead shift embodiment of this invention as well.

As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 11, and 12, the bed frame 190 comprises the side joists 191, 191, the back studs 192, 192, the front studs 193, 193, the frontjoist 195,

the back joist 196, the back beam 197, the angle brackets 198, 198, 199, 199', and the take-up roll support beams 194, 194'. The frame members of the bed frame 190 are rigidly attached at junctions thereof and form a strong and rigid supporting structure.

As shown at the right-hand side of FIG. 8 and at thefar end of the frame 190 in FIG. 12, the motor support members 201, 202, which are attached to the frame in a rectangular box-like assembly, support the drive means 180 thereabove. The motor 181 and the speed reducer 182 are attached to and supported by the mounting means 187 which is attached to the motor support members 201, 202. The speed reducer 182 turns the shaft 186 to which the drive wheel 185 is attached. The drive chain 183 is driven by the drive wheel 1 and passes over and turns the sprocket wheel 189 which rotates the journal rod 153, 153' at each end of the square core 151 of the take-up roll 152.

As can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 8, 10, and 12, the take-up roll assembly comprises the square core 151, the take-up roll 152, the journal rods 153, 153, the take-up roll bearings 154, 154', the bearing bosses 155, 155', and the bearing blades 156, 156'. The take-up roll bearings 154, 154' are attached to and supported by the upper surfaces of the take-up roll support beams 194, 194'. The bearings 154, 154' have the sleeves 158, 158' within which the journal rods 153, 153' fit.

The take-up roll shaft mounting assemblies 160, 160 comprise the mounting plates 161, 161', the scabbards 163, 163' having the slots 168, 168' therein the retaining pins 165, 165', and the retaining pin chains 166, 166'. The plates 161, 161' are rigidly attached to the inner sides of the take-up roll support beams 194, 194'. The scabbards 163, 163' are attached to the plates 161, 161' in upright position so that the respective slots are vertical and capable of receiving the blades 156, 156 when they are dropped into the slots 168, 168', as shown in FIG. 10. The retaining pins 165, 165' fit into the scabbard holes 167, 167' and into the blade holes 157, 157, whereby the bearing blades 156, 156' are held securely against vibration and unbalanced torsional and tensile forces upon the take-up roll.

The S-wrap assembly shifting means 140 forms a shifting frame which is rotatably attached to the supporting structure and ideally defines the tensional pressure plane 209; it comprises the shifting arms 141, 141, the shifting pivots 142, 142', the sprocket wheel support 143, the chain tensioning sprocket wheel 144, the shifting arm supports 145, 145', the shifting arm stops 146, 146', the input roll base 147, the frame stability plates 171, 171', the stability pins 173, 173' and the stability chains 172, 172, which are visible in FIG. 1 1. The shifting arms 141, 141 are rigidly attached to the input roll base 147 and to the swing rod 124 and in combination form a strong and rigid rectangular shifting frame.

This shifting frame rotates on the shifting pivots 142, 142', which are attached to the take-up roll support beams 194, 194', so that the shifting frame tilts therebetween. Tiltably shifting the shifting frame toward the take-up roll assembly 150 is stopped by the shifting arm stops 146, 146'; shifting away therefrom through the shifting angle 208, which is shown in FIG. 9, is stopped by the shifting arm supports 145, 145'.

When this take-up device is operating, the pull upon the Slwrap assembly representing the direction of tangential departure of the web from the pressure roll 126 changes, as the wound web 118 builds up in thickness, in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 9. In consequence, the resultant of the forces pulling downwardly upon the S-wrap assembly moves outwardly of the input roll 1 19 if the wound web 1 18 is sufficiently large. Therefore, the tensional pressure plane 209 also moves outwardly (to the left in FIG. 9) of the input roll 119, and the entire shifting frame tilts to the left, as seen in FIG. 12. Of course, inward pressure upon the wound web 118 ceases at that point. To prevent this unwanted shift and to maintain the desired inward pressure as the wound web 118 becomes very large, frame stability plates 171, 171' are rigidly attached to the take-up roll support beams 194, 194', as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, and the stability pins 173, 173', which are conveniently held on chains 172, 172', are inserted in matching holes in the frame stability plates 171, 171' andin the shifting arms 141, 141'.

When the shifting frame is tilted toward the take-up roll, as shown in FIG. 11, the input roll base 147 is approximately horizontal and consequently is in angular relationship to the longitudinal direction of the shifting arms 141, 141'. The input roll 119 is attached to the input arm base 147 by bearings 148, 148.

Also attached to the shifting arm 141, near the lower end thereof, is the sprocket wheel support 143. The chain tensioning sprocket wheel 144 is rotatably attached to the wheel support 143 near the outer end thereof. When the shifting frame is tilted away from the take-up roll assembly 150, the chain tensioning sprocket wheel 144 is moved toward the right, as shown in FIG. 12, and becomes readily disengaged from the drive chain 183. When the shifting means is tilted towards the take-up roll assembly 150, as shown in FIG. 11, the sprocket wheel 144 is moved toward the left, as shown in FIG. 11, and engages the drive chain 183, thereby tightening it and causing its engagement with the drive wheel 185 and the sprocket wheel 189. When the shifting means 140 is tilted as shown in FIG. 12, the drive chain 183 may be simply hung over a supporting means such as the angle bracket 199 which is attached to the arm 141 on the outside thereof.

The S-wrap assembly 120, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 11 and 12, comprises the pair of suspension arms 123, 123', the pair of end plates 121, 121, the pair of positioning arcs 122, 122', the end plate positioning rod 129, the pair of pivots 134, 134', and the triad of generally parallel rolls which are all joumaled to the end plates 121, 121: the reverse roll 128, the spreader roll 127, and the pressure roll 126. The spreader roll 127 is joumaled to the end plates 121, 121"by journals 132, 132 and is disposed convexly toward the pressure roll 126 because the moving cloth 117 passes over and around the pressure roll 126 so that the spreader roll 127 is bowed transversely thereto, as shown in FIG. 9. The incoming web section 114 passes downwardly along the back side of the take-up roll assembly, then under and around the input roll 119, then diagonally upward as web section 115 between the input roll 119 and the reverse roll 128. After passing over the reverse roll 128, it moves diagonally as web section 116 to pass beneath the spreader roll 127 and then diagonally upthen is free to tilt independently thereof as the wound cloth 118 grows in diameter while the frame stability plates 171, 171 and pins 173, 173' maintain the shifting frame in position. The initial angular tilt 210 (FIG. 13) of the pair of suspension arms 123, 123 is clearly less than the fixed angular tilt 213 of the pair of shifting arms 141, 141. but gradually increases to the final angular tilt 211 as the wound cloth 118 grows to maximum diameter.

The tensional pressure plane 209 longitudinally bisects the suspension arms 123, 123' and roll 127, at zero inward pressure, and passes to the right of the center of roll 127 when inward pressure exists. As an operating method, by providing that the tensional pres sure planes 109, 209 is always to the right, as seen in FIGS. 2, 9, and 13, of the spreader rolls 27, 127, there is always an inward compaction pressure upon the surface of the wound webs 18, 118.

At the beginning of the winding operation, as indicated in FIG. 13, a tension-derived pressure is exerted upon the take-up roll 152 when the S-wrap assembly is suspended as indicated at 123a. At the end of the winding operation, an increased tension-derived pressure is exerted inwardly upon the wound fabric 118 when the S-wrap assembly is suspended as indicated at 123b, transversely to the tensional pressures and approximately in line with the triad of rolls 126, 127 and 128. This inward pressure bears upon the wound cloth 118 along the line of contact with the pressure roll 126, augmenting the weight-derived force pressing thereupon.

This invention is capable of operation by a single operator and can be adjusted for spreading and compacting a wide variety of webs in the textile, paper and calendaring arts.

The specific methods and embodiments described hereinbefore are merely for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it being understood that some modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention. Therefore, the terminology used throughout the specification is for the purpose of description and not limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In the winding of a continuously incoming web of indetenninate length upon a take-up roll having a pivotable web reversing means leaning thereagainst, the method of compacting the wound web upon the take-up roll by means of a tension-derived pressure, comprising the steps of:

A. disposing the pivot axis of said web reversing means so that said web reversing means linearly contacts the peripheral surface of the web wound upon said take-up roll;

B. feeding said web from a feed source through said web reversing means and onto said take-up roll with the feed of the incoming web being maintained relative to the pivoted position of said web reversing means in a direction tending to pivotally press said web reversing means against the surface of the wound web on the take-up roll when said incoming web is tautened; and

C. winding said take-up roll with a selected tension torque which tautens said web against the feed source thereof to create a tension-derived pressure exerted inwardly upon said take-up roll by said web reversing means.

2. The method of claim 1 including the step of adjusting the peripheral position on said take-up roll surface of linear contact between said web reversing means and said take-up roll surface.

3. The method of claim 1 including the step of laterally moving said pivot axis of said web reversing means relative to said takeup roll, whereby said web reversing means may be moved away from said take-up roll to facilitate removal and replacement of said takeup roll.

4. A web take-up device for smoothing and winding a continuously moving web of indeterminate length and compacting the wound web to form hard, straightended rolls comprising:

A. a rigid supporting structure;

B. a drive means C. a take-up roll rotatably attached to be driven by said drive means;

D. a web reversing means which is pivotably attached along a swing axis; and

E. means for feeding said web from a feed source thereof to said web reversing means in a direction which, when said web is tautened against said feed source, creates a tension-derived pressure pivotally pressing said web reversing means against said take-up roll, said drive means operating to apply a selected tension torque to said take-up roll which tautens said web against the feed source thereof, and which pulls said web through said web reversing means and about said take-up roll thereby creating said tension-derived pressure that acts inwardly upon the wound web covering said take-up roll.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein there is defined an imaginary tensional pressure plane which passes through said swing axis and through a point on said web reversing means when said web reversing means is in a pivotal position where zero tension derived pressure is exerted upon said take-up roll, said tension-derived pressure being created when said web reversing means is pivoted to move said point thereon outwardly of said tensional pressure plane in a direction away from said take-up roll.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said web reversing means has support arms at each end thereof which are pivotably attached to said swing axis.

7. The device of claim 4 in which said web reversing means includes an S-wrap assembly comprising a triad of generally parallel rolls.

8. The device of claim 7 in which said S-wrap assembly is tilted.

9. Thedevice of claim 8. in which said S-wrap assembly comprises a straight reverse roll, a bowed spreader roll, and a straight pressure roll.

10. The device of claim 9 in which said pressure roll is in linear contact with the wound web on said take-up roll.

11. The device of claim 10 in which said rigid supporting structure is an overhead frame.

12. The device of claim 11 in which said swing axis is attached to said overhead frame above said take-up roll and on the front side thereof.

13. The device of claim 12 in which said means for feeding said web comprise an input roll which is located relative to said swing axis and said take-up roll to maintain the feed of said web to said web reversing means in a direction whereby said tension derived pressure is continuously applied as the quantity of wound web increases on said take-up roll.

14. The device of claim 13 in which a shifting means for said S-wrap assembly is attached to said rigid structure and to said S-wrap assembly, whereby said S-wrap assembly may be selectively shifted away from said take-up roll.

15. The device of claim 14 in which said shifting means comprises a shifting shaft which is rotatably attached to said overhead frame, a pair of shift sheaves which are attached to said shaft, a pair of shifting cables which are attached to said sheaves and to said S- wrap assembly, and a ratchet-and-pawl means by which the S-wrap assembly may be held at a selected position.

16. The device of claim 7 in which said rigid supporting structure is a box frame, and said shifting means comprises a rectangular shift frame which is pivotably attached to said box frame.

17. The device of claim 16 in which said input roll and said swing axis are the opposed edges of said shift frame.

18. The device of claim 17 in which said shifting means comprises a chain tensioning sprocket wheel which is rotatably attached to said shift frame.

19. A take-up roll shaft mounting assembly for each end of a take-up roll which is rotatably attached to a supporting structure having a horizontal supporting beam, comprising a mounting means which is rigidly attached to said supporting beam, an aligning box which is vertically disposed and rigidly attached to said mounting means, a pair of brackets having matching holes therein in spaced-apart relationship which are attached to the outer sides of said aligning box, a cam pin which is transversely disposed to said brackets within said matching holes, a generally circular locking cam which is disposed between said brackets in eccentric relationshipto said cam pin so that the longer portion of said locking cam is on one side of said cam pin, and a locking arm which is rigidly attached to said locking cam at a position along the perimeter thereof which is no closer than to said longer portion.

20. A mounting assembly for each end of a take-up roll which comprises:

A. a mounting means which is rigidly attached to a supporting structure;

B. a scabbard, having a vertically disposed slot therein and a horizontally disposed scabbard hole therethrough, which is rigidly attached to said mounting means;

. 16 D.v a bearing, within which the journal of said take-up roll rotates, which is attached to and is supported by said blade; and

E. a retaining pin which fits within said Scabbard hole and said blade hole. 

1. In the winding of a continuously incoming web of indeterminate length upon a take-up roll having a pivotable web reversing means leaning thereagainst, the method of compacting the wound web upon the take-up roll by means of a tension-derived pressure, comprising the steps of: A. disposing the pivot axis of said web reversing means so that said web reversing means linearly contacts the peripheral surface of the web wound upon said take-up roll; B. feeding said web from a feed source through said web reversing means and onto said take-up roll with the feed of the incoming web being maintained relative to the pivoted position of said web reversing means in a direction tending to pivotally press said web reversing means against the surface of the wound web on the take-up roll when said incoming web is tautened; and C. winding said take-up roll with a selected tension torque which tautens said web against the feed source thereof to create a tension-derived pressure exerted inwardly upon said take-up roll by said web reversing means.
 2. The method of claim 1 including the step of adjusting the peripheral position on said take-up roll surface of linear contact between said web reversing means and said take-up roll surface.
 3. The method of claim 1 including the step of laterally moving said pivot axis of said web reversing means relative to said take-up roll, whereby said web reversing means may be moved away from said take-up roll to facilitate removal and replacement of said take-up roll.
 4. A web take-up device for smoothing and winding a continuously moving web of indeterminate length and compacting the wound web to form hard, straight-ended rolls comprising: A. a rigid supporting structure; B. a drive means C. a take-up roll rotatably attached to be driven by said drive means; D. a web reversing means which is pivotably attached along a swing axis; and E. means for feeding said web from a feed source thereof to said web reversing means in a direction which, when said web is tautened against said feed source, creates a tension-derived pressure pivotally pressing said web reversing means against said take-up roll, said drive means operating to apply a selected tension torque to said take-up roll which tautens said web against the feed source thereof, and which pulls said web through said web reversing means and about said take-up roll thereby creating said tension-derived pressure that acts inwardly upon the wound web covering said take-up roll.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein there is defined an imaginary tensional pressure plane which passes through said swing axis and through a point on said web reversing means when said web reversing means is in a pivotal position where zero tension derived pressure is exerted upon said take-up roll, said tension-derived pressure being created when said web reversing means is pivoted to move said point thereon outwardly of said tensional pressure plane in a direction away from said take-up roll.
 6. The device of claim 5 in which said web reversing means has support arms at each end thereof which are pivotably attached to said swing axis.
 7. The device of claim 4 in which said web reversing means includes an S-wrap assembly comprising a triad of generally parallel rolls.
 8. The device of claim 7 in which said S-wrap assembly is tilted.
 9. The device of claim 8 in which said S-wrap assembly comprises a straight reverse roll, a bowed spreader roll, and a straight pressure roll.
 10. The device of claim 9 in which said pressure roll is in linear contact with the wound web on said take-up roll.
 11. The device of claim 10 in which said rigid supporting structure is an overhead frame.
 12. The device of claim 11 in which said swing axis is attached to said overhead frame above said take-up roll and on the front side thereof.
 13. The device of claim 12 in which said means for feeding said web comprise an input roll which is located relative to said swing axis and said take-up roll to maintain the feed of said web to said web reversing means in a direction whereby said tension derived pressure is continuously applied as the quantity of wound web increases on said take-up roll.
 14. The device of claim 13 in which a shifting means for said S-wrap assembly is attached to said rigid structure and to said S-wrap assembly, whereby said S-wrap assembly may be selectively shifted away from said take-up roll.
 15. The device of claim 14 in which said shifting means comprises a shifting shaft which is rotatably attached to said overhead frame, a pair of shift sheaves which are attached to said shaft, a pair of shifting cables which are attached to said sheaves and to said S-wrap assembly, and a ratchet-and-pawl means by which the S-wrap assembly may be held at a selected position.
 16. The device of claim 7 in which said rigid supporting structure is a box frame, and said shifting means comprises a rectangular shift frame which is pivotably attached to said box frame.
 17. The device of claim 16 in which said input roll and said swing axis are the opposed edges of said shift frame.
 18. The device of claim 17 in which said shifting means comprises a chain tensioning sprocket wheel which is rotatably attached to said shift frame.
 19. A take-up roll shaft mounting assembly for each end of a take-up roll which is rotatably attached to a supporting structure having a horizontal supporting beam, comprising a mounting means which is rigidly attached to said supporting beam, an aligning box which is vertically disposed and rigidly attached to said mounting means, a pair of brackets having matching holes therein in spaced-apart relationship which are attached to the outer sides of said aligning box, a cam pin which is transversely disposed to said brackets within said matching holes, a generally circular locking cam which is disposed between said brackets in eccentric relationship to said cam pin so that the longer portion of said locking cam is on one side of said cam pin, and a locking arm which is rigidly attached to said locking cam at a position along the perimeter thereof which is no closer than 90* to said longer portion.
 20. A mounting assembly for each end of a take-up roll which comprises: A. a mounting means which is rigidly attached to a supporting structure; B. a scabbard, having a vertically disposed slot therein and a horizontally disposed scabbard hole therethrough, which is rigidly attached to said mounting means; C. a blade, which fits within said vertically disposed slot, having a horIzontally disposed blade hole therethrough in matching relationship to said scabbard hole and a horizontally disposed boss attached thereto near the upper end thereof and projecting outwardly so that said boss rests upon said scabbard when said blade is dropped into said slot; D. a bearing, within which the journal of said take-up roll rotates, which is attached to and is supported by said blade; and E. a retaining pin which fits within said scabbard hole and said blade hole. 